By IANS,
Bangalore : Smaller cities and towns across India, including in the northeast region would have air connectivity and new airports, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said Tuesday.
“A new policy in the form of route dispersal guidelines is under consideration to provide air connectivity to remote and interior areas of the country,” Ajit Singh said at a meeting of the ministry’s parliamentary consultative committee here.
The policy envisages setting up an Essential Air Services Fund to subsidise airlines connecting tier-two (non-metros) and tier-three cities (towns) across the country.
“We are also planning to enhance operations of helicopters and construction of helipads at smaller places, including pilgrim centres and popular tourist spots to connect them with cities and metros,” Ajit Singh told the lawmakers.
Guidelines will be modified to enable regional and feeder airlines to buy smaller aircraft for providing connectivity on short haul routes to smaller cities and towns.